Texans sending four players to Pro Bowl

Dec 29, 2009 at 11:48 AM

Four Houston Texans were named to the 2010 AFC/NFC Pro Bowl, the NFL announced today. Houston will send rookie linebacker Brian Cushing, wide receiver Andre Johnson, linebacker DeMeco Ryans and defensive end Mario Williams to South Florida for the league's feature of the best players on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010. Johnson is the only starter.

With four Pro Bowlers, the Texans surpass last year's total of three for most in team history. This marks the sixth consecutive season that the Texans have had a player in the Pro Bowl and the third straight year that the team has had at least one starter.

Johnson will make his team-record fourth appearance and third start in the NFL's all-star game, while Williams and Ryans make their second trip. Cushing becomes the second Texans rookie to make the Pro Bowl, joining kick returner Jerome Mathis in 2005.

Johnson (6-3, 223) leads the NFL with 1,504 receiving yards. He is the second player in NFL history to post back-to-back 1,500-yard seasons after having 1,575 last year. Johnson has 95 catches on the season and with five more receptions on Sunday would have 100 for the third time in his career. He looks to become the first player since Jerry Rice in 1994-95 to lead the NFL in receiving yards in back-to-back seasons.

Williams (6-6, 283) leads the team with 8.0 sacks and ranks third in the AFC among defensive linemen. His 41 tackles are the most among Texans defensive linemen. He ranks second on the team with 12 tackles for loss. He joins Johnson as the first Texans to make it to the Pro Bowl in consecutive seasons.

Ryans (6-1, 248) leads the team with 87 solo tackles and is second with 116 tackles. He is the leader on the Texans' defense, which ranks 14th in the NFL. Since Oct. 1, the Texans rank fourth in total defense, giving up 297.6 yards per game, and second against the run, yielding 85.2 yards on the ground. In Week 15 at St. Louis, Ryans became the first player to record 500 tackles during his Texans career.

Cushing (6-3, 260) is the first rookie outside linebacker to make the Pro Bowl since Shawn Merriman of the San Diego Chargers did in 2005. Cushing leads the AFC with 128 tackles and leads all linebackers with four interceptions. He leads all linebackers with 10 passes defensed and his 4.0 sacks are third among rookies this year. He is one of three rookies to make the Pro Bowl.

Texans quarterback Matt Schaub, fullback Vonta Leach, and kick returner Jacoby Jones were all named as alternates for the AFC squad.

Houston Texans Pro Bowlers

         </td>
     </tr>
     <tr>
         <td> **Player**</td>
         <td>**Position**</td>
         <td>**Season**</td>
         <td>**Career Selections**</td>
     </tr>
     <tr>
         <td bgcolor="#cccccc"> Brian Cushing</td>
         <td bgcolor="#cccccc"> LB</td>
         <td bgcolor="#cccccc"> 2009</td>
         <td bgcolor="#cccccc"> First</td>
     </tr>
     <tr>
         <td> Andre Johnson*</td>
         <td> WR</td>
         <td> 2009</td>
         <td> Fourth</td>
     </tr>
     <tr>
         <td bgcolor="#cccccc"> DeMeco Ryans</td>
         <td bgcolor="#cccccc"> LB</td>
         <td bgcolor="#cccccc"> 2009</td>
         <td bgcolor="#cccccc"> Second</td>
     </tr>
     <tr>
         <td> Mario Williams</td>
         <td> DE</td>
         <td> 2009</td>
         <td> Second</td>
     </tr>
     <tr>
         <td bgcolor="#cccccc"> Owen Daniels</td>
         <td bgcolor="#cccccc"> TE</td>
         <td bgcolor="#cccccc"> 2008</td>
         <td bgcolor="#cccccc"> First</td>
     </tr>
     <tr>
         <td> Andre Johnson*</td>
         <td> WR</td>
         <td> 2008</td>
         <td> Third</td>
     </tr>
     <tr>
         <td bgcolor="#cccccc"> Mario Williams*</td>
         <td bgcolor="#cccccc"> DE</td>
         <td bgcolor="#cccccc"> 2008</td>
         <td bgcolor="#cccccc"> First</td>
     </tr>
     <tr>
         <td> DeMeco Ryans*</td>
         <td> LB</td>
         <td> 2007</td>
         <td> First</td>
     </tr>
     <tr>
         <td bgcolor="#cccccc"> Andre Johnson*</td>
         <td bgcolor="#cccccc"> WR</td>
         <td bgcolor="#cccccc"> 2006</td>
         <td bgcolor="#cccccc"> Second</td>
     </tr>
     <tr>
         <td> Jerome Mathis</td>
         <td> KR</td>
         <td> 2005</td>
         <td> First</td>
     </tr>
     <tr>
         <td bgcolor="#cccccc"> Andre Johnson</td>
         <td bgcolor="#cccccc"> WR</td>
         <td bgcolor="#cccccc"> 2004</td>
         <td bgcolor="#cccccc"> First</td>
     </tr>
     <tr>
         <td> Aaron Glenn*</td>
         <td> CB</td>
         <td> 2002</td>
         <td> Third</td>
     </tr>
     <tr>
         <td bgcolor="#cccccc"> Gary Walker*</td>
         <td bgcolor="#cccccc"> DE</td>
         <td bgcolor="#cccccc"> 2002</td>
         <td bgcolor="#cccccc"> Second</td>
     </tr>
     <tr>
         <td> ***Denotes Pro Bowl starter**</td>
         <td> </td>
         <td> </td>
         <td> </td>
     </tr>
 </tbody>

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